Meghan Markle's inner circle reveals what the royal is like as a friend

The Duchess of Sussex’s friends have spoken out for the first time in support of the royal [Photo: Getty]

Ever since Meghan Markle joined the Royal Family, separating fact from wild speculation has proved difficult. Everything from the mum-to-be’s rumoured feud with the Duchess of Cambridge to family controversy has dominated headlines.

Now, five of the 37-year-old’s closest friends have spoken out for the first time in a bid to “stand up against the global bullying we are seeing and speak the truth”.

After remaining tight-lipped for almost two years, the women (who wish to remain anonymous) opened up about the ‘real’ Meghan during an interview.

“Meg has silently sat back and endured the lies and untruths,” an anonymous former co-star told People magazine. “We worry about what this is doing to her and the baby, it’s wrong to put anyone under this level of emotional trauma.”

A close friend of Meghan’s shared details on the royal’s private life, explaining that the Duchess of Sussex is a welcoming host and remains remarkably down-to-earth – despite her regal position.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s latest engagement took place at charity One25 in Bristol on February 1, 2019 [Photo: Getty]

“Th perception of [Harry and Meghan’s] lifestyle and the reality are two different things,” a confidante told the publication. “Meg cooks for herself and Harry every single day.”

The pregnant royal is described by friends as the “best listener” and the first person her inner circle turns to when they’re in need of advice.

“If I’m thrown some kind of curveball, I always think, ‘I gotta talk to Meg,'” a former colleague revealed. “We talk daily. And the first thing out of her mouth is, ‘How are the kids? How are you?’ I’m not even allowed to ask about her until she finds out about me.”

The Duchess of Sussex first met Serena Williams back in 2014 [Photo: Getty]

Serena Williams is another close friend who has sung Meghan’s praises in recent years.

“We’ve always had a wonderful friendship and every year for a couple years she comes out to Wimbledon, has supported me,” Serena said at the Wimbledon press conference in 2018. “Now, she’s supporting me in a different role.”

The tennis champion also made it clear that despite Meghan’s newfound royal status, their “friendship is still exactly the same”.

“We have always supported each other,” Williams, who has been friends with Meghan since 2010, added.

The Duchess of Sussex photographed alongside Misha Nonoo back in 2015 [Photo: Getty]

Likewise, fashion designer Misha Nonoo has been quick to show support for Meghan. The pair have been friends with for a number of years.

“We were seated next to one another at a lunch and we got along like a house on fire,” Nonoo told The Evening Standard. “I love her to death. She is the coolest girl in the world.”

During the now-famous cover interview with Vanity Fair, Nonoo also offered further insight into Meghan’s character: “Her greatest strength is her compassion for others.”